President Hassan Rouhani cuts his visit to attend UN General Assembly and will return to Iran to take part in the funeral of victims of pilgrims who lost their lives in last Thursday stampede tragedy in Saudi Arabia, said a media official in President Office.

Meanwhile the first flight of Iranian hajj pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia lands at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport on at 12:00 local time (08:30 GMT) on Monday.

Talking to IRNA, director general of Hajj Affairs at Iran Airports Company (IAC) Manouchehr Sepasi reiterated that the Iranian pilgrims return operations will start today and continue until Oct 17.

Expressing regret over the fatal incident in Mina, he offered condolences to the Iranian government and the families of the killed pilgrims.